19th Coronavirus Death in San Diego County; Federal Hospital Being Set Up

Apr 5, 2020

San Diego County health officials on Sunday reported a 19th death from COVID-19 and an additional 117 new cases of coronavirus.

Public Health Officer Dr. Wilma Wooten, at the daily coronavirus briefing, said a woman in her late 90's died from COVID-19 in San Diego County. There were an additional 117 cases reported from the day before bringing the total positive cases of coronavirus to 1,326.

Supervisor Chair Greg Cox warned that the month of April could be the most deadly and that everyone needs to follow the stay at home and physical distancing orders and the advisories about wearing cloth masks or face coverings. If they don't, Cox said, "We could see so many cases that they could overwhelm our health care system."

Cox also said that during this weekend, the Sheriff's department gave citations to 25 people for violating the public health orders. He reminded residents that those cited with a misdemeanor for violating the orders face up to a $1,000 fine and/or up to 6 months in jail.

Supervisor Nathan Fletcher thanked the state and federal governments for the decision to set up a 250-bed federal hospital inside the Palomar Medical Center in the North County on two vacant floors. Fletcher says this will help serve the entire region in responding to the coronavirus and help the local health care system with the response to all needs.

Fletcher also said that 180 homeless vets Sunday were being moved from the Veterans Village bridge shelter into the San Diego Convention Center under the plan to shelter all those in the city's bridge shelters in the convention center to provide protection from the virus with physical distancing and services provided as well. The people living in the Alpha Project's two bridge shelters were being moved into the Center last week.